Miami Todayhttps://www.miamitodaynews.com
The Newspaper for the Future of MiamiWed, 19 Dec 2018 04:10:49 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.9Miami International Airport direct Asia flights in workshttps://www.miamitodaynews.com/2018/12/18/miami-international-airport-direct-asia-flights-in-works/
https://www.miamitodaynews.com/2018/12/18/miami-international-airport-direct-asia-flights-in-works/#respondWed, 19 Dec 2018 04:10:49 +0000https://www.miamitodaynews.com/?p=54726More than a year after Miami-Dade Aviation claimed Miami International Airport was “about two years” from a establishing direct flights to Asia, little progress has been made, according to Chris Mangos, county aviation marketing director. And regarding the continent’s biggest nation, he said, the situation has worsened. “[With] China, things have gotten a little more […]

]]>More than a year after Miami-Dade Aviation claimed Miami International Airport was “about two years” from a establishing direct flights to Asia, little progress has been made, according to Chris Mangos, county aviation marketing director.

And regarding the continent’s biggest nation, he said, the situation has worsened.

“[With] China, things have gotten a little more difficult,” he said. “There are terms of our [bilateral agreement] the US is claiming that China is not adhering to, and it has brought the two countries to an impasse. Until [those] accusations are straightened out, it’s highly doubtful we’re going to see any additional service into the United States by carriers.”

Miami International Airport and Asia exchange nearly 100,000 tons of cargo annually – a $5.2 billion market in 2017 – and Miami remains the busiest US market for leisure and business travel from Asia without nonstop passenger service, an independent study by Sabre Airvision Market Intelligence states.

Poor standings with China, Mr. Mangos said, have bled over into air arrangements with the neighboring Taiwan, whose EVA Air and China Airlines depend on travelers from the mainland.

“China firmly controls the number of cities and people that travel through the Taiwan hub,” he said.

Travelers between Taiwan and Miami connect through John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City, where there is often a layover that further lengthens an already protracted trip.

“[Between] Taiwan [and] New York [it’s] almost 16 hours,” said David K.C. Chien, director general of the Republic of China’s Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Miami. “You have to stay overnight, [which adds] another several hours. Then from New York to Miami it’s almost three hours. Time is money, and faster times will increase incentives for Asian [travelers].”

A direct 17.5-hour flight between Miami and Taipei is possible, as evidenced in June 2017 when Miami International Airport welcomed Taiwan President Tsia Ing-wen.

But regular flights would require “payload restrictions” limiting the number of seats sold, as cargo and passenger weight would need to be reduced to complete the 8,628-mile trip.

“If cargo is at a minimum and you have ‘x’ number of seats you cannot sell, you’re already not starting off on the right foot,” Mr. Chien said.

The outlook is more optimistic for establishing a nonstop link with Japan.

“My best guess – and we’re hoping to sit down with them in January, if all goes well – is we’ll probably get a commitment from them [the] second or third quarter of 2019 [for] service a year later – maybe [halfway] or two-quarters through 2020,” he said. “It would be a good catch for us.”

As it would be for Japan, which would benefit from a closer connection to Latin America, said Kenji Hirata, Japan’s consul general in Miami.

“Direct flights between Japan and Miami… contribute to business and tourism between Japan and South Florida [and] between East Asia and Latin America,” he said.

And with Tokyo hosting the 2020 Olympics, he said, “it is good timing.”

]]>https://www.miamitodaynews.com/2018/12/18/miami-international-airport-direct-asia-flights-in-works/feed/0Brazil visitors to Miami by air growing again after diphttps://www.miamitodaynews.com/2018/12/18/brazil-visitors-to-miami-by-air-growing-again-after-dip/
https://www.miamitodaynews.com/2018/12/18/brazil-visitors-to-miami-by-air-growing-again-after-dip/#respondWed, 19 Dec 2018 04:06:17 +0000https://www.miamitodaynews.com/?p=54728More than 6% additional air passengers have flown from Brazil to Miami this year, expanding our influx from our visitor industry’s one-time leading source of guests and tourist spending. Total passengers flying to Miami International Airport from Brazil rose from about 750,000 last year to 800,000, according to information provided to the Greater Miami Convention […]

]]>More than 6% additional air passengers have flown from Brazil to Miami this year, expanding our influx from our visitor industry’s one-time leading source of guests and tourist spending.

Total passengers flying to Miami International Airport from Brazil rose from about 750,000 last year to 800,000, according to information provided to the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) by Miami-Dade Aviation.

Another direct flight from Salvador, Brazil, the coastal capital of Brazil’s northeastern state of Bahia, was added in 2018. Official statistics regarding Brazilian spending and visitor numbers won’t be available until April or May, according to the GMCVB.

In July 2018, GMCVB Chief Operating Officer Rolando Aedo told Miami Today that unofficial numbers looked “very encouraging” and that the increase in Brazilian tourism and spending in Miami comes at least in part from an increased number of direct flights from Brazil to Miami via American Airlines, LATAM Airlines and Avianca Airlines.

Despite Brazilian spending and tourism in 2015 and 2016 dropping significantly by 26.5% and 26%, respectively, probably due to the unstable economy and fewer direct flight options, in 2017 Brazilian visitor spending here had dipped only 3.8% and Brazil was Miami’s fourth-strongest market. In 2017, Brazilians spent about $967,467,102 and there was an increase of 17.1% of new airline seats and 21.7% more flights to Miami.

“Airlines adjust their capacity and the amount of flights to and from a location based on the amount of demand,” Mr. Aedo previously told Miami Today. “In Miami’s case there has been an increased amount of demand from Brazilian tourists to fly to Miami, which has really helped create a dramatic amount of growth.”

With 50,000 more seats filled with passengers coming from Brazil to Miami in 2018 than 2017 and an additional direct flight option from the city of Salvador, Brazil could be moving up again in international market expenditures and visitors for Miami in 2018.

]]>https://www.miamitodaynews.com/2018/12/18/brazil-visitors-to-miami-by-air-growing-again-after-dip/feed/0Brickell City Centre expansion to help fund public housinghttps://www.miamitodaynews.com/2018/12/18/brickell-city-centre-expansion-to-help-fund-public-housing/
https://www.miamitodaynews.com/2018/12/18/brickell-city-centre-expansion-to-help-fund-public-housing/#respondWed, 19 Dec 2018 04:04:07 +0000https://www.miamitodaynews.com/?p=54733It could be two to three years before work starts on the next phase of sprawling Brickell City Centre, but when it does the City of Miami will get $1 million for affordable housing. Developer Swire Properties agreed to the voluntary public benefits contribution as it seeks approvals to expand its footprint in the neighborhood […]

]]>It could be two to three years before work starts on the next phase of sprawling Brickell City Centre, but when it does the City of Miami will get $1 million for affordable housing.

Developer Swire Properties agreed to the voluntary public benefits contribution as it seeks approvals to expand its footprint in the neighborhood south of the Miami River.

The Miami City Commission on Dec. 13 granted preliminary approval to a third amendment to the project’s Special Area Plan (SAP), and a second development agreement. The unanimous vote came during a first reading of two ordinances.

The second reading and final vote may be set for late January.

The latest proposals request permission to redevelop two adjacent sites: the former Associated Photo site at 19 SW Sixth St. and 650 S Miami Ave., site of the former Tobacco Road bar.

Approvals would clear the way for an additional 972 residential units in two new towers, and much more.

The large mixed-use project is in District 2, represented by Commissioner Ken Russell, who said he met with Swire representatives and got the promise of $1 million for affordable housing in the city.

Mr. Russell said the developer agreed to pay $250,000 on the city’s behalf to Habitat for Humanity and the remaining $750,000 on behalf of the city to Rebuilding Together, a non-profit, to use for single-family house renovations.

He said the $1 million was voluntarily offered above and beyond other public benefits to which the developer has also voluntarily committed, include building a public riverwalk and other improvements under the South Miami Avenue Bridge.

Mr. Russell said that Swire has already proven itself a good provider of extras that help out the city, including rebuilding a Metromover station.

He said when the latest requests surfaced he considered it was time to discuss housing affordability with the major developer and what it could do to help.

“We’re all in this together, and we do have a crisis,” Mr. Russell said.

The proposed method in which the $1 million would be spent was not supported by Commissioners Manolo Reyes and Joe Carollo.

Mr. Reyes said by giving the money to Habitat for Humanity it “reduces our leverage.”

He reminded his colleagues that since he and Mr. Carollo took office in late 2017 they’ve been campaigning to start a fund that the city itself could use to purchase land and build affordable housing.

“Let’s have a plan … the best bang for the buck,” Mr. Reyes said.

Mr. Russell said Rebuilding Together is already working on projects throughout the city, and has already identified 100 homes that are in need of repairs.

A representative for Rebuilding Together said the organization works on 75 to 80 homes a year, including houses owned by veterans and the elderly, and spends an average $20,000 to $25,000 per home doing critical repairs like laying new roofs, installing hurricane-proof windows and building ADA compliant bathrooms.

Mr. Carollo said he was uncomfortable with the “strings attached” to the new promised funding from Swire.

He said he’s sure Mr. Russell has the best intentions in negotiating the additional money but “we’re getting away from where we were a year ago – I want the city to be in control of the money,” Mr. Carollo said.

“Let’s divided it all up,” Mr. Carollo suggested. He asked that each of the five commissioners get $200,000 for affordable housing projects in their respective districts, with commissioners deciding whether to spend funds on rehabilitation, new construction or land purchases for affordable housing projects.

Mr. Russell agreed to Mr. Carollo’s suggestions.

Neisen Kasdin, an attorney representing Swire, said the company would agree to the money being paid directly to the city, but he noted the payment would not be made until building permits are issued for the next phase.

Mr. Carollo asked when that would occur.

Mr. Kasdin said the start of construction would be “market dependant” but probably in a two- to three-year period.

All agreed to add the $1 million contribution commitment to the new development agreement.

The expansion plans have earned supportive votes from Miami’s Downtown Development Authority, the Planning, Zoning and Appeals Board and the Urban Development Review Board.

Besides two more residential towers, the proposal would add nearly 90,000 square feet of commercial space, a ground-level plaza, more parking, and enhancements around and under the South Miami Avenue Bridge.

The legislation includes:

■The third amendment to the previously approved Brickell City Centre Special Area Plan to add 2.39 acres for a total development area of 13.96 acres. The additional properties are at 500, 602, 614, 622, 626, 630 and 640 S Miami Ave., 11, 21, 31, 37, 45 and 55 SW Seventh St., and 19 and 42 SW Sixth St.

■A second development agreement between Tobacco Road Property Holdings LLC, BCC Road Improvement LLC and 2 Indian Creek Holdings LLC and the City of Miami to govern the third amendment to the previously approved SAP, by expanding the boundaries to encompass two additional building sites identified as the BCC 650 SMA and BCC AP blocks.

This summer, Swire formally applied for the third amendment, incorporating the two added city blocks, which are northwest of the existing Brickell City Centre, which began vertical construction in 2013.

Brickell City Centre’s two condominium towers, two Class-A office buildings, and its EAST, Miami Hotel, hug a more than 500,000-square-foot shopping center that opened in November 2016.

Miami 21, the city’s zoning code, says the purpose of a Special Area Plan is to allow 9 abutting acres or more to be master planned to allow greater integration of public improvements and infrastructure, and “greater flexibility so as to result in higher or specialized quality building and Streetscape design.”

The new plan calls for two residential towers, one at each site.

The first tower, to rise at 650 S Miami Ave., would have 54 stories containing 588 residences; the second tower would rise to 62 stories and have 384 residences.

The towers are to be connected by pedestrian bridges to the existing Brickell City Centre, and Swire plans an extended paseo, or walkway, along South Miami Avenue from Southeast Fifth through Seventh streets.

The riverfront will also be revitalized as part of the pedestrian trail, with the purchase of remnant land that the Florida Department of Transportation was using for storage, according to a Swire representative.

The project will add landscaping, lighting and benches under the elevated roadway to create a new public open space replacing fenced-off surface parking for bridge maintenance workers.

Although not technically part of the Miami River Greenway, these improvements south of Fifth Street will coordinate directly with the growing Greenway-Riverwalk, and open up pedestrian connections to the river from Brickell City Centre and South Miami Avenue that don’t now exist.

Once this phase begins, it is expected to require three years to complete, according to Swire.

]]>https://www.miamitodaynews.com/2018/12/18/brickell-city-centre-expansion-to-help-fund-public-housing/feed/0Downtown Development Authority to help fund Underdeck under I-395https://www.miamitodaynews.com/2018/12/18/downtown-development-authority-to-help-fund-underdeck-under-i-395/
https://www.miamitodaynews.com/2018/12/18/downtown-development-authority-to-help-fund-underdeck-under-i-395/#respondWed, 19 Dec 2018 04:02:39 +0000https://www.miamitodaynews.com/?p=54736Directors of Miami’s Downtown Development Authority voted Friday to commit $50,000 to the development of the open space under I-395 as the Underdeck, a linear park that is meant to be a community gathering place. It’s part of the redesign of I-395 that’s will create the Signature Bridge. The money will go toward the hiring […]

]]>Directors of Miami’s Downtown Development Authority voted Friday to commit $50,000 to the development of the open space under I-395 as the Underdeck, a linear park that is meant to be a community gathering place. It’s part of the redesign of I-395 that’s will create the Signature Bridge.

The money will go toward the hiring of a designer for the space, which The Florida Department of Transportation will own but the City of Miami will manage.

“This is one of those things that can be really great or really awful,” said Alyce Robertson, authority executive director. “We’re partnering with the city to make it something fantastic.”

“This is a 33-acre linear park that is, right now, a blighted area between downtown and Overtown,” said Ken Russell, authority chair and Miami commissioner. “This will open it up for pedestrian activity and possibly some commercial leasing.”

“It’s very encouraging that FDOT recognizes that this is not their forte,” said Patrice Gillespie-Smith, authority senior manager for planning, design & transportation. The state transportation department has instead turned to entities that have managed open public areas, in its effort to maximize the empty space.

Responding to questions by board members Greg West, president and CEO of ZOM Living, and Alan Ojeda, president of Rilea Development Group, Ms. Robertson said the money is earmarked for the design process of this project only and that the authority will stay involved in every step of the design.

The funds should be spent to hire “a pre-eminent park designer,” said board member Gary Ressler, a principal of the Tilia family of companies.

“We now have a stake with the city,” Mr. Russell said. “We learned a lot with the Flagler Street project,” which was hobbled by delays and mishaps, and is still not complete. “All of us are working together from the start. We’re not trying to get someone else to buy into our vision.”

]]>These film permits were issued last week by the Miami-Dade County Department of Regulatory & Economic Resources’ Office of Film and Entertainment, (305) 375-3288; the Miami Mayor’s Office of Film, Arts & Entertainment, (305) 860-3823; and the Miami Beach Office of Arts, Culture and Entertainment-Film and Print Division, (305) 673-7070.

]]>https://www.miamitodaynews.com/2018/12/18/filming-in-miami-december-20-2018/feed/0FYI Miami: December 20, 2018https://www.miamitodaynews.com/2018/12/18/fyi-miami-december-20-2018/
https://www.miamitodaynews.com/2018/12/18/fyi-miami-december-20-2018/#respondWed, 19 Dec 2018 04:00:43 +0000https://www.miamitodaynews.com/?p=54713Below are some of the FYIs in this week’s edition. The entire content of this week’s FYIs and Insider sections is available by subscription only. To subscribe click here. COFFEE CO. CORRECTING COUNTY: To address unintended workplace discrimination, Miami-Dade’s human resources department is developing a training workshop for county staff based on one by Starbucks. The […]

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]]>Below are some of the FYIs in this week’s edition. The entire content of this week’s FYIs and Insider sections is available by subscription only. To subscribe click here.

COFFEE CO. CORRECTING COUNTY:To address unintended workplace discrimination, Miami-Dade’s human resources department is developing a training workshop for county staff based on one by Starbucks. The in-person, two-hour training program, “Tackling Unconscious Bias,” will launch January 2019, a memo from Mayor Carlos Giménez states, and incorporate components of the coffee company’s curriculum to help county staff examine common societal stereotypes, cultural assumptions, ways participants perceive others, how diversity skills affect public sector workplaces and how it impacts their work; observe, experience and discuss cultural differences to increase awareness of attitudes, behaviors and the negative effects of prejudice and discrimination, and reinforce team-building concepts to turn knowledge into usable skills serving a diverse community. County commissioners approved an item Sept. 5 sponsored by Barbara Jordan calling for the program, which joins current employee development classes including “Preventing Unlawful Harassment” and “Valuing Diversity” that are part of the mandatory “Diversity Matters” e-learning program.

BANK PAYOUT PENDING:Miami-Dade will seek its portion of a $340 million settlement fund established as part of an out-of-court settlement with HSBC Bank which, with Deutsche Bank, agreed to pay restitution for alleged harm caused by manipulation of the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) for US dollars. The two banks – as well as Deutsch, HSBC, Bank of America, Barclays Bank, Barclays Capital, Citigroup, Credit Suisse, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, Royal Bank of Scotland and UBS Group – were accused of artificially lowered the dollar rate during the financial crisis, resulting in “purchasers not receiving as much in interest payments as they would have otherwise,” Deputy Mayor Jack Osterholt wrote Dec. 4. In October, commissioners approved resolutions retroactively authorizing the county to participate and accept its portion of the settlements, including $1.373 million from Deutsch – its portion of a $213.35 million class-action settlement.

SWIMMING POOL REPLACEMENT: A new public swimming pool is on tap for the City of Miami’s Elizabeth Virrick Park. City commissioners have authorized the city manager to execute an agreement with Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department to provide water and sewer services for Virrick Park New Pool Facility, to be constructed at 3255 Plaza St. The city intends to construct and connect to the county’s water and sewer systems a new pool for 119 persons, replacing the present pool for 75 persons that’s on septic tank service. This results in a combined water and sewer connection charges of $21,826.80.

]]>It seems the sun may be setting on the purchase approval of Brickell Bank this year. Chairman and CEO Frederick Reinhardt, who expected the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.’s thumbs-up in 2018, remains hopeful about receiving purchase approval soon and expects the influx of capital to serve the company well.

The FDIC is weighing Joseph Benhamou’s offer after a public hearing was held with the Office of Financial Regulation in early November as required by Florida law. The meeting focused on the prospective 99.99% acquisition of the bank by Mr. Benhamou, his wife Mirella Viviana Benhamou-Arbib and their daughter Mycol Benhamou-Namdar. All parties involved are waiting for a response from the FDIC.

The approval would transfer ownership from Banco Espírito Santo S.A. in liquidation headquartered in Portugal to the Benhamou family, majority owners of Geneva-based CBH Compagnie Bancaire Helvétique SA. Banco Espírito Santo S.A. in liquidation purchased Brickell Bank in 1975, two years after it opened its doors in Miami. The bank named itself after its partner company and adapted variations of the same title until 2015, a year after Banco Espírito Santo lost billions and needed a bailout.

Mr. Benhamou seeks to hold 29.99% of the voting securities of the bank, according to their application filed in March through Miami-based law firm Greenberg Traurig. He plans to take an active role by way of serving on the board of directors. Mrs. Benhamou and Ms. Benhamou-Namdar, on the other hand, do not plan to be heavily involved in the inner workings of the organization. Mrs. Benhamou would hold 29.99% of voting securities and their daughter would hold 39.99% of the voting securities of the bank.

Some things will stay the same. The bank plans to continue operations from its location at 1395 Brickell Ave. and Mr. Benhamou expects to leave standing the organization’s wholly-owned subsidiaries, which include Brickell Global Markets, Tagide Properties, Brickell Global Advisory and Brickell Global Insurance.

Mr. Reinhardt said he believes the deal will help his organization recover from its lingering two-star rating from BauerFinancial.

Mr. Reinhardt said, “Brickell Bank is looking forward to a capital increase with the change of control and a renewed strategy of careful growth in private banking and lending.”

BauerFinancial studies and rates on a five-star scale independent banks and credit unions. Scores can dip as low as zero stars and rise to five stars for a superior, BauerFinancial-recommended status. Brickell Bank keeps falling short, holding onto two stars indicating a problematic status. A bank summary provided by BauerFinancial provides data as of September and demonstrates fluctuating conditions since last year. The bank checks in at $492.839 million in total assets in September 2017, then $473.078 million in December 2017, $472.473 million in March and slides further to $457.890 million in June. But total assets climb back up to $478.242 million in late September of this year.

The leverage capital ratio exemplifies a similar pattern. Brickell Bank had 5.82% of leverage capital ratio last September, then 5.74% in December, 5.91% in March, 5.82% in June, and 5.56% in September 2018.

Profit numbers show promise. The year-to-date profit is $2.432 million, according to BauerFinancial. That’s a slight increase from the previous calendar year that had a profit of $1.517 million. But the bank still has a way to go, seeing that the numbers are still shy of reaching profit from two calendar years ago of $4.584 million.

Brickell Bank and the Benhamou family now wait for regulators to give their blessing, hoping to receive good news sooner rather than later.

]]>Some designs for the southwestern extension to State Road 836 veered too far west. Other routes flanked properties on Southwest 167th Avenue too tightly. Last week, the Miami-Dade Expressway Authority (MDX) showed residents its recommended solution for the Kendall Parkway, which it says is just right.

The route, labeled “Corridor 2 Alternative 2” at a hearing MDX hosted Dec. 13 at Archbishop Coleman F. Carroll High School in West Kendall, will provide express access on six lanes as well as for rapid bus or light rail and a non-motorized shared use greenway.

It would cut arterial rush-hour congestion an average 18%, according to Stantec Consulting Services senior principal Silvia Beltre, who said the parkway would be a boon to neighborhoods and economic engines like Miami Executive Airport while improving emergency evacuation and minimizing adverse environmental effects.

“This alternative is projected to carry up to 92,000 vehicles per day, [results] in the least impact to utility rail, drainage [and flood] considerations, [and] balances benefits to transit and recreational uses associated with a facility closer to existing residential and commercial uses [while distant] from existing homes to the greatest extend practical,” she told about 100 attendees. “From an environmental perspective, Corridor 2 Alternative 2 resulted in the best impacts to the most sensitive sites.”

The planned 14-mile route extends 836 past its present ending at Northwest 137th Avenue, traveling west to just before Krome Avenue and south to Southwest 136th Street and around Southwest 157th Avenue.

Alternative designs varied mostly around how closely the expressway would run alongside Southwest 167th Avenue. MDX settled on a solution close to the avenue but distant enough to mitigate air and noise effects.

To begin the roughly $1 billion project, the Florida Department of Transportation must buy property from private owners.

MDX provided nine binders of varying thickness for residents to read, each containing a separate report related to the project development and environmental study.

According to an invitation for the hearing, these documents can be reviewed through Dec. 26, excluding major holidays, at MDX’s headquarters and Lakes of the Meadow, Kendale Lakes and West Kendall Regional libraries.

No homeowners would need to move to make way for the extension, Aecom Technical Services relocation agent Soraya Fabian said. However, a flow chart provided to attendees showed that property owners’ options in the acquisition process are limited.

If no price is agreed to for the land MDX needs, a court will set one.

“If we are unable to reach a mutually agreeable purchase price, we may choose to file a condemnation action, which will not occur less than 30 days from the date we make our written offer to purchase,” the pamphlet states.

Miami-Dade commissioners in late September voted 9-4 to extend the expressway, which if OK’d by state and federal authorities would go beyond the county’s western development boundary.

At the time, MDX officials said the extension will generate about $45 million yearly in tolls, charging drivers $1 end-to-end.

State law requires MDX to transfer part of its surplus revenue to the county for transit projects.

Opponents argue the requisite destruction of roughly 1,000 acres of Everglades and potential impacts to the Biscayne Aquifer are unacceptable.

MDX must buy one acre for every acre it wipes out. Sen. Marco Rubio has said the number should be at least double that.

Even that wouldn’t be enough, some residents say.

“There is no planet B,” said Kaatje Bernabei of the environmental nonprofit Sierra Club Miami. “Our focus – every action we take, as politicians, as citizens – should [be on] doing what is right for the environment. This road is not good for the environment.”

Others, like Country Walk resident Ory Donaldson, said MDX and county officials had done their due diligence in addressing and mitigating those concerns.

Longtime residents struggling through traffic daily were counting on the extension, whose critics, Ms. Donaldson said, would only be satisfied if no action was taken.

“After this evening, I can’t see how people are still coming up here saying things over and over again,” she said. “All these things were addressed – the aquifer, the wetlands, everything. The problem is [some people], no matter what the project is for, [will] be here against it.”

“I wouldn’t say the plans we saw are that detailed; it’s more like a line on a map,” he said. “This is affecting our drinking water. It could affect residents of the Florida Keys. To the extent that the Everglades in West Dade isn’t healthy, sea level rise in the future could become an issue for us, where we’re building another coastline that’s vulnerable to hurricanes.”

]]>https://www.miamitodaynews.com/2018/12/18/extension-to-state-road-836-could-carry-92000-cars-a-day/feed/0Daniel Kodsi: Developing in second-largest US ongoing urban projecthttps://www.miamitodaynews.com/2018/12/18/daniel-kodsi-developing-in-second-largest-us-ongoing-urban-project/
https://www.miamitodaynews.com/2018/12/18/daniel-kodsi-developing-in-second-largest-us-ongoing-urban-project/#respondWed, 19 Dec 2018 04:00:14 +0000https://www.miamitodaynews.com/?p=54709Daniel Kodsi is one of the lead developers in the second-largest urban development in the nation: Miami Worldcenter. But before being a prominent Florida developer, as an 11-year-old and the son and nephew of developers he started working in construction to become accustomed to being on-site. With a passion for modern and classical architecture, Mr. […]

]]>Daniel Kodsi is one of the lead developers in the second-largest urban development in the nation: Miami Worldcenter. But before being a prominent Florida developer, as an 11-year-old and the son and nephew of developers he started working in construction to become accustomed to being on-site.

With a passion for modern and classical architecture, Mr. Kodsi received his degree from University of Miami in 1991 in urban planning, architecture and finances. From there, he took off.

“Once I had the degree, I started developing a track record and then by the mid 1990s I started building a company, building some infrastructure, and I’d say towards the end of the 1990s I had eight or nine active projects at a time,” he said. “I just kept building and I built a multitude of products from single-family homes to apartments to mid-rise and high-rise. By 2005 I broke ground on Paramount Bay, which was a 50-story high rise. I kept building my track record from there. Of course I took a little hiatus from developing during the recession but besides that I’ve been developing for about 28 years.”

His largest project to date, but not his last, is coming close to finishing the first product. Paramount Miami Worldcenter is planning to open for residents in May or June 2019, according to Mr. Kodsi.

Rising at 900 NE First Avenue, the luxury residential tower Paramount Miami Worldcenter will be the signature tower of the 27-acre mixed-use development. The 60-story skyscraper offers a skyport for the future of flying cars, a rooftop observatory, a world-class spa, resort-style pools, an outdoor soccer field, two tennis courts, a boxing studio, a golf simulator, an indoor basketball court and a game room. It was financed with a mix of equity, traditional and EB-5 funding, Mr. Kodsi said.

Miami Worldcenter is a mix of seven developers. Mr. Kodsi, Nitin Motwani and Art Falcone teamed up to work on the Paramount tower and create something that Miami has never seen.

Mr. Kodsi is currently working on another phase of Miami Worldcenter, a second tower that is still in the design phase.

Mr. Kodsi, born in Montreal but raised in Cocoa Beach, sat down with Miami Today reporter Katherine Lewin. The interview, recorded by Jahmoukie Dayle, can be found Friday at http://bit.ly/2uNHy0Q.

To read the full article and the rest of the Miami Today issue, subscribe to e-MIAMI TODAY, an exact replica of the printed edition.

]]>https://www.miamitodaynews.com/2018/12/18/daniel-kodsi-developing-in-second-largest-us-ongoing-urban-project/feed/0Dinner Key Marina may go to bid for private operatorhttps://www.miamitodaynews.com/2018/12/18/dinner-key-marina-may-go-to-bid-for-private-operator/
https://www.miamitodaynews.com/2018/12/18/dinner-key-marina-may-go-to-bid-for-private-operator/#respondWed, 19 Dec 2018 04:00:05 +0000https://www.miamitodaynews.com/?p=54721Miami has long run Dinner Key Marina in Coconut Grove, the state’s largest wet slip marine facility. In January, city commissioners will consider whether to turn over operation to the private sector, along with city-run Miamarina at Bayside. The move comes at the urging of Joe Carollo, who has been pushing fellow commissioners and administrators […]

]]>Miami has long run Dinner Key Marina in Coconut Grove, the state’s largest wet slip marine facility. In January, city commissioners will consider whether to turn over operation to the private sector, along with city-run Miamarina at Bayside.

The move comes at the urging of Joe Carollo, who has been pushing fellow commissioners and administrators to find new revenue sources and beef up current revenue streams.

Mr. Carollo raised the marinas issue this fall when the Miami Parking Authority sought to raise parking rates. He basically postponed a final vote to hike parking rates until the administration moved to increase marina rates.

At the commission’s Dec. 13 meeting, Mr. Carollo said he wanted to “test the waters” in January and discuss the financial impact of having the private sector run the two marinas.

“I’ll bring in numbers in January that will shock you on how bad we run some of our facilities,” he told City Manager Emilio González.

Mr. Carollo directed the manager to look into what it would take to request formal proposals from businesses to run the public marinas, and to study profit margins. If there isn’t a big difference in city revenue from a city-run marina vs. a privately-run marina, then “we don’t have to change,” he said. But he said he believes the city could rake in much more money.

At Mr. Carollo’s direction, staff studied dockage rate hikes, which showed the city could make an extra $1.2 million a year at the two marinas.

Mr. Carollo was critical of how the city operated its marinas, noting that a company runs the city’s Rickenbacker Marina on Virginia Key.

“I think we should run them all or the private sector run them all, and from what I’ve seen, the private sector does a better job,” Mr. Carollo said, meaning that private marinas in the area make substantially more profit than the city-run facilities.